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Weddings

Planning Wedding Receptions

By , About.com Guide

Your wedding reception is probably the biggest and most important party you'll ever plan. Here's how to make it fun, memorable, and affordable.
  1. Wedding Reception Basics
  2. Menus and Caterers
  3. Wedding Cake
  1. Wedding Reception Music
  2. Wedding Flowers and Centerpieces
  3. Themes and Styles

Wedding Reception Basics

Gotham Hall - NYC

Before you can get to the fun stuff like decorations, music, and food, you'll need to know a few wedding reception basics. Put together a timeline, figure out what style of wedding reception you want, consult your wedding budget and find a place to hold it.

Menus and Caterers

Food and drink are some of the most important parts of your wedding reception - after all if they're well fed and have a great cocktail, they're sure to have a good time.

Wedding Cake

http://charmcitycakes.com/

Wedding cakes are the grand finale to a reception - so shouldn't they be breathtaking? Here is advice on how to find a wedding cake baker and questions you should ask. If you're interested in making your own wedding cake, or making one for another family member, check out the step-by-step guide to making and decorating a wedding cake.

Wedding Reception Music

Music is the lifeblood of a successful party, and will do more than anything else to set the mood and tone of your wedding reception. But should you have a band or a dj? Or perhaps you should go the DIY route and use an iPod or other mp3 player. Here's advice on how to find the right wedding music for your reception.

Wedding Flowers and Centerpieces

Wedding flowers are one of the most important aspects of a reception. They bring color, life, and scent. They help make table settings more beautiful, and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Yet navigating wedding flowers (and finding a florist)can be confusing. It's also easy for them to be a budget breaker. Here's my best advice on wedding flowers and other centerpieces.

Themes and Styles

Here are the keys making your wedding your own, infusing it with personality and style.

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